Start at Praça do Comércio, arriving around 9:00am when the riverfront is quieter and the light is excellent across the Tagus. Give yourself about 45 minutes to walk beneath the Arco da Rua Augusta, admire the yellow Pombaline façades, and look back toward the arcaded square. The arch’s viewing platform usually opens later than the square itself—often around 10:00am—and costs roughly €5, so skip it if the queue is building. From the northern side, walk 5–10 minutes up Rua Augusta to the Elevador de Santa Justa. The lift is generally open from morning until late evening, but queues can be long; viewing the iron structure from Rua do Ouro is free, while the upper panorama typically costs a few euros. Allow around 45 minutes, and use the walkway at the top to avoid taking the lift back down.
Continue a few minutes west into Chiado for the Convento do Carmo, one of Lisbon’s most atmospheric stops. The roofless Gothic nave is particularly striking in the late morning sun; allow about an hour for the ruins and small archaeological museum. It is normally open Tuesday–Sunday from around 10:00am to 6:00pm, with a modest admission fee of approximately €7—check the official schedule because opening times can change. Afterward, walk downhill via Rua do Alecrim toward Cais do Sodré, taking roughly 15–20 minutes, or use the short Metro journey from Baixa-Chiado if your legs need a break. Have lunch at Time Out Market Lisboa for about 1½ hours: arrive before 12:30pm or after 2:00pm to find a seat more easily, and budget €15–30 per person for several small dishes and a drink. It is lively rather than intimate, but it is convenient for trying different Lisbon specialties in one place.
Leave Cais do Sodré after lunch and walk uphill through Bairro Alto toward Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, allowing 20–25 minutes on steep cobbled streets; alternatively, take the Elevador da Glória if operating, though queues are common. Spend the late afternoon at the viewpoint, where the panorama takes in Baixa, Castelo de São Jorge, and the hills of old Lisbon. Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunset for a good railing spot, especially on a Friday evening, and bring water—the climb and exposed terrace can feel warm even in September. From here, you are well placed to wander the small streets of Bairro Alto for dinner, or walk back downhill toward Rossio and Praça dos Restauradores if you prefer a quieter route.
Take the Tram 15E from Praça da Figueira or Praça do Comércio around 7:30–8:00am; allow 30–40 minutes, and expect a busy ride. A Navegante occasional ticket is about €1.80, while buying onboard costs roughly €3.20. Start with warm custard tarts and coffee at Pastéis de Belém, where the old tiled dining rooms are more pleasant than simply eating outside; allow around 45 minutes and €5–12 per person. Then walk a few minutes to Jerónimos Monastery. Arrive early for shorter queues, and check the official schedule before setting out as opening times and access to the cloisters can vary. Allow 1½–2 hours; entry is typically around €12, with combination tickets sometimes available.
From Jerónimos Monastery, walk toward the river along Praça do Império and the waterfront, about 15 minutes, to Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Spend roughly 45 minutes admiring the monument and, if the weather is clear, taking the lift to its viewpoint for broad views across the Tagus and back toward the monastery. Continue west along the riverside promenade to Belém Tower, another 10–15 minutes on foot. Allow about an hour, but check current access arrangements before relying on an interior visit—the tower can close temporarily for restoration or crowd control. Afterward, follow the waterfront east toward MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, passing beneath the 25 de Abril Bridge; the walk takes about 20 minutes. Give the museum around 1½ hours, including time on its rooftop terrace. Admission is generally in the €11–15 range, depending on the exhibitions.
Finish at À Margem, a relaxed riverside restaurant a short walk from MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. Reserve ahead for a terrace table, particularly on a September Friday, and expect around €25–45 per person for a meal. The setting is best enjoyed slowly at sunset, with views across the Tagus and the illuminated bridge. For the return to central Lisbon, walk back toward Belém for the Tram 15E or use a taxi/rideshare if you have stayed late; the tram ride back to Baixa usually takes 30–40 minutes, but evening traffic can make it longer.
From Belém, leave after breakfast and aim to reach Castelo de São Jorge around opening time, ideally by 9:00am. Take Tram 15E toward Praça da Figueira, then continue on foot or via Baixa-Chiado and the Metro toward Santa Apolónia; allow 35–50 minutes in total. A Navegante occasional ticket is roughly €1.80, while onboard tram tickets cost more. From Santa Apolónia, a taxi or uphill walk is easiest—avoid arriving by car, as parking around Alfama is very limited. Spend about two hours exploring the castle walls, towers, and shaded courtyards; admission is generally around €15, and the first hours are noticeably cooler and less crowded.
Walk downhill through Alfama to Miradouro de Santa Luzia, about 10–15 minutes away. Its tiled panels, flowering terrace, and view over the red roofs toward the Tagus make it a good place for a relaxed half-hour. Continue a few minutes to Sé de Lisboa, where you can spend roughly 45 minutes seeing the Romanesque interior and cloister; entry is usually around €5, with hours varying by religious services, so keep voices low and check the day’s schedule at the door.
If your date falls on Saturday, wander uphill toward Feira da Ladra in São Vicente, Lisbon’s long-running flea market, and allow about an hour to browse vintage tiles, old books, ceramics, and wonderfully impractical curiosities. It is generally held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, usually from morning into the afternoon; bring small cash and keep valuables secure in the busy lanes. On a non-market day, use this time for a slow walk through the quieter streets around São Vicente before returning toward the river. Then visit Museu do Fado, where an hour is enough to follow the story of fado, its singers, and its distinctive Lisbon neighborhoods; it is typically open Tuesday–Sunday, with admission around €5–6, but verify the September timetable before setting out.
Have an early, light meal or a drink nearby, then arrive at Mesa de Frades around 7:30–8:00pm for dinner. This atmospheric fado house occupies a former chapel, with azulejo-covered walls and performances woven between courses rather than presented as a formal concert. Reserve ahead—the intimate room fills quickly—and expect approximately €35–60 per person, depending on your menu and drinks. Allow around two hours, and plan to walk or take a short taxi/Bolt afterward: the lanes of Alfama are steep, uneven, and poorly suited to navigating after a long day.
Start early in Xabregas at Museu Nacional do Azulejo, ideally arriving around 10:00am. The museum occupies the former Convento da Madre de Deus, and its long blue-and-white tile panorama of Lisbon is the highlight—allow about 90 minutes. Check the September opening hours before setting out, as it is commonly closed on Mondays; admission is usually around €8. From central Lisbon, bus connections are more practical than the Metro here, while a taxi or rideshare takes roughly 10–15 minutes from Alfama. Afterward, continue to Parque das Nações by taxi (about 15 minutes) or bus, allowing extra time for traffic.
Late morning is a good moment to wander along the broad riverside paths of Parque das Nações, around Oriente and the Passeio das Nações, before the aquarium crowds build. Look out for the district’s contemporary sculpture and the cable cars over the Tagus. Then enter Oceanário de Lisboa around midday; allow two hours and, if possible, book a timed ticket online—adult admission is generally about €25. The central aquarium is best seen slowly, with the upper habitats making a pleasant change of pace after the busier riverside promenade.
After the aquarium, take the Red Line from Oriente toward São Sebastião, change to the Blue Line, and get off at Rato for Mercado de Campo de Ourique; the journey takes roughly 30–40 minutes, followed by a short walk. Settle in for lunch here rather than rushing between restaurants: the market has a useful mix of Portuguese dishes, seafood, petiscos, and desserts, with €15–30 per person a realistic budget. Continue by taxi or walk about 15 minutes to Basílica da Estrela, whose marble interior and painted dome are worth a quiet 45-minute visit; dress respectfully, and check the day’s service schedule before entering. Finish at Jardim da Estrela, directly opposite, where shaded paths, palms, ponds, and locals playing cards make an easygoing final hour. If you still have energy, leave via Rua de São Bento toward Chiado by tram or taxi; otherwise, stay for a drink in Estrela and enjoy one of Lisbon’s more relaxed neighborhood evenings.